Reuss: Don’t Count On A Cadillac ELR-V

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Cadillac is in the midst of expanding its high-performance ‘V’ portfolio beyond the CTS nameplate to the compact ATS sedan. Currently, there isn’t any indication that a V badge will find its way onto any more vehicles in Cadillac’s model range, but Driving the Nation decided to ask General Motors product head, Mark Reuss, about the possibility of an ELR-V with GM’s magnetic ride control suspension anyways.

“Great question, can’t really answer that,” Reuss replied, adding that the MagneRide suspension system takes a lot of power to deliver the response times it does on cars like the CTS-V and would drain the ELR’s battery. Reuss did say however that there is room to “expand the tuning envelope” of the ELR if they ever chose to do so.

So, unsurprisingly, the ELR isn’t next in line to get Cadillac’s V treatment. That’s kind of a shame, we’re sure The Smoking Tire would have appreciated the upgraded suspension when carving through the Californian canyons with the EREV coupe. Check out the short interview with Reuss below and let us know what you think of the idea of an ELR-V in the comments.

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Where did we go from a ELR-V with MRC and slightly more juice and less MPGe, all the way to a $100,000,000 918, or P1, competitor? He wasn’t talking about being anything close to the 918, that’s just crazy. Model S would be setting their sights high enough as is for performance.

Andrew Mark Reuss pointed out the suspension would kill the battery alone. That is where that came from.

My point on the 918 is this is where it is all going for performance. To keep larger engines and massive power the 918 is an example of what we will see on a cheaper and more wider scale in the future. It will save the sports car and super car.

As for the S model it has the advantage of electric motor low end performance but it also has it’s limits. Besides that is not the point of an electric either.

The present ELR was just a left over from old GM to create a slot and segment for Cadillac short term and in a few years they will have the Gen 2 system and I expect a full on EV sedan to compete with the S in time. Still I would not expect a V as this is not that type of car.

I have no issue with FWD if it is a true performance car as it has been done. I drive a Chevy HHR SS that will lap the ring in 8 min, do 13 seconds in the quarter mile and has a top end over 150 MPH if anyone is dumb enough to try it.

It is faster than any SS Big Block I have owned stock and it will also turn and stop unlike any older SS I have owned. One of mine was a no power anything 68 SS wit drum brakes. It would go but that was it.

The fact is at some point the FWD will be a factor and will have to be addressed if you will want more performance cars. Even Benz has a AMG of their new FWD that they said they would never build.

The key here is the ELR is and never was considered for performance. The Voltec system is not a performance system. If and when the time and price is right a system similar to like the 918 where it is electric and can flip to the 800 HP V8 then we may consider it but for now it is time to let the ELR just fill a gap till they get the EV sedan and ELR replacement ready.